Well matches between these two are always going to be very tough and close (and usually boring), Murray's blisters in the third set definitely hindered his level of play for the rest of the match and that was enough for Djokovic to blow him out. Before that it was a close match.

Well matches between these two are always going to be very tough and close (and usually boring), Murray's blisters in the third set definitely hindered his level of play for the rest of the match and that was enough for Djokovic to blow him out. Before that it was a close match.

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Sounds like Murray needs to get in his corner with a good blister man, either that or he couldn't play through the pain.

I just want to know if Murray brought any fight, that's all.
Was he smug towards Djokovic and how long, or was he rather petulant towards the whole situation? That's all I need to know about Andy's buttons for my purposes.

I just want to know if Murray brought any fight, that's all.
Was he smug towards Djokovic and how long, or was he rather petulant towards the whole situation? That's all I need to know about Andy's buttons for my purposes.

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I think he fought reasonably well but I think he went away slightly in the last two sets. Both didn't play as well as they did in the SFs. Murray didn't serve as well as against Fed. Murray's return was not at his best. Murray had blisters. Murray served a DF after feathergate to give Nole a mini break. Murray couldn't convert any of his BPs. Nole was leaking UEs for parts of the first 2 sets but tightened up his game in the last 2. Nole capitalised on Murray's UEs in the 3rd and 4th set to break.

Ddn't see all of the match but from what I could tell the first 2 sets were very tight (well, they both went to tie-breakers so that's a bit obvious). Murray seemed the better player for most of the first 2 sets but his level noticeably started to drop towards the end of the 2nd. In the 2nd set breaker, there was a bizarre incident with a falling feather that I think he let distract him as he was about to serve at 2-2 because he then double-faulted to hand Djokovic the mini-break which he then held onto.

After Djokovic had levelled at 1 set all, Murray took an MTO to get his foot bandaged. It looked very blistered. After that, his movement noticeably slowed and seemed hampered and his groundstrokes declined in quality. His serve held good for the most part but eventually that too cracked and Djokovic got the vital break in the 7th game of the 3rd set. He never looked back after that and upped his level to take the 4th and the match.

In short, Murray had definite chances in the first 2 sets but his movement and level rapidly deteriorated after that. In a reversal of the US Open final, Djokovic definitely outlasted Murray in the fitness stakes. With these 2, it very often becomes a test of stamina in the end. Murray won the last contest, Djokovic won this one. Deservedly so.

Oh man the horror. Adidas will have to change the name of their lightweight shoe or Murray's going to break out in a screaming frenzy whenever they give him a catalogue.

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Did anyone see Murray's feet? They were split to pieces!
You would think professional players would have feet like leather?
I used to get split feet playing football. It was agony but the skin would harden and toughen over time.
Maybe it's just modern tennis is so physical that nothing can stop that?
Be interesting to see the state of Djokovic's feet.

I mean sure Murray had the foot blister issue, but honestly, he looked tired too that match.

how in the world is the guy with the easiest draw and yeah , he went 5 sets with Fed, but I dont think it was a physical match...how in the world is he tired after 2 sets?

Weird.

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I wonder if Federer makes you have to sprint and change direction harder within rallies due to all those nasty angles and variety?
Although it wasn't the longest 5 setter, Murray said it felt really tough.

I wonder if Federer makes you have to sprint and change direction harder within rallies due to all those nasty angles and variety?
Although it wasn't the longest 5 setter, Murray said it felt really tough.

How has this been different in any era at any time in history. People talk about how someone took care of someone (Nadal Soderling 2009) but I can't see any way otherwise unless we're suggesting round robins in the final four.

He just stopped being aggressive after the second set tie break and got distracted by a Feather.

However, distractions/not being aggressive 'as much' can still see Murray win matches but the reasons above combined with the fundamental reason how he got to beat Federer - (his serve) let him down BIG time.

Well we know why you watched the final then, just like how NSK watched it for the KIA ads featuring Nadal. ;-)

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Well played. But not sure about that avatar.

Better version of himself at the other end of the court. Djokovic was nice to blow all the break chances in the 1st then play a horrific TB; and to not attack Murray's still fragile in big matches 2nd serve. Should have been a 3 setter.

Ddn't see all of the match but from what I could tell the first 2 sets were very tight (well, they both went to tie-breakers so that's a bit obvious). Murray seemed the better player for most of the first 2 sets but his level noticeably started to drop towards the end of the 2nd. In the 2nd set breaker, there was a bizarre incident with a falling feather that I think he let distract him as he was about to serve at 2-2 because he then double-faulted to hand Djokovic the mini-break which he then held onto.

After Djokovic had levelled at 1 set all, Murray took an MTO to get his foot bandaged. It looked very blistered. After that, his movement noticeably slowed and seemed hampered and his groundstrokes declined in quality. His serve held good for the most part but eventually that too cracked and Djokovic got the vital break in the 7th game of the 3rd set. He never looked back after that and upped his level to take the 4th and the match.

In short, Murray had definite chances in the first 2 sets but his movement and level rapidly deteriorated after that. In a reversal of the US Open final, Djokovic definitely outlasted Murray in the fitness stakes. With these 2, it very often becomes a test of stamina in the end. Murray won the last contest, Djokovic won this one. Deservedly so.

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Pretty much. Great and fair summary of the match despite your being a Murray fan. You are definitely one of the best posters here.

I just want to know if Murray brought any fight, that's all.
Was he smug towards Djokovic and how long, or was he rather petulant towards the whole situation? That's all I need to know about Andy's buttons for my purposes.

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He wasn't as petulant as usual, but he certainly wanted to make it clear to everybody in the building that he was suffering, poor thing. Nole won 27 out of 31 trips to the net, appx. 60% of his second serve points, and was never broken. I think that about sums it up. The whole match seemed to change when the dug out of a love 40 hole at the beginning of the 2nd set.

He wasn't as petulant as usual, but he certainly wanted to make it clear to everybody in the building that he was suffering, poor thing.

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Well, at least he had the good grace to wait until the 2nd set was over before he took the MTO for his foot. Contrast that to Djoker who decided to take one just before Murray was about to serve for the match at the US Open final!

Murray's problem is that he cannot beat Djokovic unless Djokovic just plain out plays bad for a long stretch of time during the match. He has alot of bad match-ups on Djokovic, mainly the forehand to forehand exchange. If Djokovic is on point, Murray loses those forehand to forehand exchanges more often than not, and draws when he goes backhand to backhand. This forces Murray to play more lower percentage shots since he can no longer just play normal 'defensive' tennis against a player of Djokovic's quality. Serve comparison, Murray's is bigger but alot more inconsistent, and he tends to fire wildly when under pressure resulting in low first serve percentage. Djokovic typically utilizes and mixes up his serve very well, which keeps Murray from teeing off on his serve. As a result, Djokovic will get to see alot more second serves than Murray does.

Not to mention, if Djokovic manages to keep the match close, Murray will likely crack. Djokovic is clearly the aggressor most of the time, and as such will conserve most of his stamina in points while Murray will be expending most of his. So unless Murray gets a big lead early (ala US Open), he's likely going to lose everytime he faces Djokovic.

The feather was the most exciting part of the entire match, and it proved to be the turning point (incident) in the match. They should have frisked Novak's team for feathers in their pockets when they entered the stadium. :shock: